#24 Coastal Carolina Hands Wake Forest 10-2 Loss

CONWAY -
Coastal Carolina pitcher Josh Conway had a third-straight impressive performance and Wake Forest pitchers struggled early as the 24th-ranked Chanticleers (9-4) defeated the Demon Deacons, 10-2, Wednesday night at Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field. The game was originally set to be played at Wake Forest, but inclement weather forecast in Winston-Salem, N.C., forced the venue change.

Conway, the reigning Big South Pitcher of the Week, struck out six and allowed just one hit over five innings, while retiring the first six batters he faced. The sophomore improved to 3-0 on the season and in his last three starts has pitched 16 innings., allowing just six hits and two earned runs while striking out 23.

On the other side, Wake Forest (4-8) used 10 pitchers over eight innings, allowing nine hits and 10 walks while hitting two batters. Justin Van Grouw (1-2) suffered the loss, pitching to just three batters, all walks, before leaving the game.

After a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first, Coastal sent 11 men to the plate, thanks to six walks and a hit batter, and scored six runs. The first four Chanticleer batters each walked, the last being an RBI for Rich Witten. Bowman was then hit by a pitch to earn an RBI and keep the bases loaded. Motter followed with an RBI walk, putting CCU up 3-0. With one out, John Fidanza plated Witten with a sacrifice fly to left. A throwing error on a pick-off attempt at first allowed Bowman to score and put Motter on third. May followed with an RBI double, Coastal's first hit of the inning and accounting for the sixth run.

Coastal loaded the bases with no outs to start the second as well, getting consecutive singles from Tommy La Stella, Witten and Bowman. The Chants got a fourth straight single by Motter, driving in La Stella.

To start the third, after hitting a double down the third-base line as a right-handed batter in the first, May turned around to bat left-handed and ripped a double down the first-base line. Then, for the third consecutive inning, Coastal would load the bases with no outs as T.J. Young walked and Hayes Orton was hit by a pitch. May would make the score 8-0, crossing home after a double play for an 8-0 CCU lead.

Wake got its first hit with a leadoff double down the left-field line by James Harris to start the fifth. In the sixth, Wake Forest got on the scoreboard in the sixth. Pat Blair had a leadoff walk and, after a walk and wild pitch, scored on Matt Conway's RBI ground out.

The Chants answered back in the home half of the sixth as Bowman hit a leadoff home run, his third blast of the season. Coastal used an error, wild pitch and ground out to score its 10th run. May reached on a throwing error, which allowed the freshman to advance to second. After a wild pitch, T.J. Young grounded out to second, driving in May for Young's first career RBI.

Wake Forest tacked on a single run top of the eighth to provide the final 10-2 margin. Mac Williamson singled and moved to third on a Coastal error and scored on a wild pitch.

Coastal Carolina has won five straight over the Deacs and now own a 15-13 advantage in the all-time series.

The Chants will remain home to host its final weekend tournament of the season -- the Caravelle Resort Classic. The Chants will host Kent State and one of the nation's top pitchers Friday at 4 pm, the only game played that day. On Saturday, CCU will host Notre Dame at 2:30 pm and complete the event by hosting UAB on Sunday at 11 am at BB&T Coastal Field.

NOTE: Zach Lopes, who came off the bench, recorded his first collegiate hit, a double down the left-field line.